Loudoun County's Scrape For The Grape Returns In 2025 To Address Invasive Insect

UPDATE: Many of the April 12 volunteer events are being pushed to April 13 due to inclement weather.

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Volunteers will descend upon vineyards, parks, neighborhood and farms in an effort to curb the spread of an invasive insect in Loudoun County.

The Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance, a coalition of homeowners associations addressing invasive species, is organizing its second annual Scrape for the Grape. The volunteer-led effort targets the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that can be harmful to crops like grapevines and fruit trees.

Scrape for the Grape focuses on removing spotted lanternfly egg masses. According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension, adult spotted lanternflies lay eggs in September until the cold weather kills them off. These eggs remain during the winter season and typically hatch between mid-April to early May.

The young nymphs turn into adults as the warmer season progresses, and the cycle of egg laying continues. Spotted lanternflies prefer the invasive tree-of-heaven as a host, but they will advance to crops like grapevines and fruit trees.

Given Loudoun County's robust wine industry, the spread of the invasive insect has caused alarm. There was a noticeable presence of the spotted lanternflies around neighborhoods and wineries in Loudoun County during the warmer season in 2024.

Scrape for the Grape volunteers at least put a dent in the spotted lanternflies' spread. During 2024's event, volunteers counted 16,798 spotted lanternfly egg masses scraped from trees, and each egg mass could contain 30 to 50 eggs. Assuming half of the eggs were female, that means a potential 1 million potential spotted lanternflies were prevented from coming to Loudoun County. Volunteers also marked tree-of-heavens for removal.

The 2025 Scrape for the Grape will be held on two dates — Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Due to weather, most of the April 12 events are being moved to April 13.

Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for one or both dates. Training will be provided in identifying and removing spotted lanternfly egg masses. Volunteers will also receive souvenir scrapers, T-shirts and bandanas. Volunteers may choose location preferences, which include wineries, homeowners associations, and Ida Lee Park.

To thank volunteers, wineries will offer special promotions for volunteers during the weekends of March 29 and 30 and April 12 and 13. Children can receive a special event cookie from Mom's Apple Pie in Leesburg.

Volunteers can sign up on the Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance website.